Russia Expands Threats to UK, France, NATO’s East

Russian officials have escalated threats against the UK, France, and NATO's eastern flank amid heightened tensions from the ongoing war in Ukraine. Kremlin-linked figures and leaked documents have identified UK military sites as potential nuclear targets, with Russian state media issuing direct warnings to UK and French troops against intervening in Ukraine. Sergey Naryshkin, Russia's Foreign Intelligence Service chief, singled out Poland and the Baltic states as 'first to suffer' in any NATO-Russia conflict, citing their increased border defenses and decisions to withdraw from the anti-personnel mine ban. These warnings are part of a broader Kremlin narrative blaming NATO for rising military tensions and indicate Russian preparations for possible large-scale conflict. In response, defense officials in Poland and the Baltics have pointed to increased threats from Russia and Belarus and have reinforced their military postures. The rhetoric on both sides is fueling concerns about the risk of a wider conflict in Europe.